Lock

ABSTRACT

An improved lock for preventing operation by a gaff. The improvement consists of a means for preventing removal or up-lift of standard removably affixed pin caps on tumbler pin keyed locks. The device affixes the pin cap to the body of the lock.

United States Patent 191 Gaul et al. Dec. 30, 1975 LOCK 1,477,318 12 1923 Cress ..70/364A [76] Inventors: Ray Gaul Isl-3 High St" 2,620,649 12 1952 Bernardo 70/358 Alameda, Calif. 9450l; Raymond J. Penoli, Jr., 20 Geary Court, Walnut Creek, Calif. 94596 Filed: May 28, 1974 Appl. No.: 473,392

U.S. Cl. 70/364 A; 70/372 Int. Cl. E05B 15/00 Field of Search 70/358, 364 A, 372, 373,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1917 James 70/364 A Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lames R. Cypher [57] ABSTRACT An improved lock for preventing operation by a gaff. The improvement consists of a means for preventing removal or up-lift of standard removably affixed pin caps on tumbler pin keyed locks. The device affixes the pin cap to the body of the lock.

3 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,928,991

8 3 7 Fle PR'OR ART PRIOR ART F I I:- l

PRIOR ART F I I3 3- U.S. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,928,991

13b Mb 1 III/1 FIE-.131

LOCK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At the present time, statistics show that an automobile is stolen every 34 seconds inthe United States. While some of these thefts were made possible by careless drivers who left the doors unlocked and the key in the ignition, probably most were carried out by forcible entry and hot wiring" the ignition. Forcible entry leaves some outward sign of illegal entry and requires tools which attract attention to the fact that a forcible entry may be in progress. Most forcible entries require a few minutes time which can lead to detection and arrest by authorities. Even after entry, further critical time is needed to hot wire the ignition. If authorities become suspicious and stop a person driving a hot wired car, the absence of a key in the ignition is an immediate indication that the car may have been stolen.

No present day mass produced automobile lock is immune to being picked, but again, this process takes several minutes and time is of the utmost importance to those who would successfully carry out the theft of an automobile.

Recently, a tool has been invented which is known as a gaff which can be used to enter most tumbler pin locks which have a removable cap holding the spring loaded pins. For example all Ford produced automobiles from the 1965 model year to the present use such gaff vulnerable locks. Some General Motors and Chrysler products are also vulnerable to such tools.

The gaff can be concealed in the palm of the hand and entry to any gaff" vulnerable lock can be accomplished in less than three seconds; the time it takes to use a key in a lock. Recently, a special agent of the National Auto Theft Bureau, Pacific Coast Division witnessed a test in which a gaff was used to open an automobile door. Entry was accomplished in less than three seconds and the agent noted that he was unable to detect the use of any special tool before, during, or after the test. To him, it appeared that the car had been entered by normal means using the key made for the car lock. This tool is also effective in the ignition of these same automobiles. Unlike a hot wired" car which is driven without a key in the ignition, a gaf entered lock will accept a blank key which makes crime detection impossible unless the arresting officer asks to see the key in the ignition. Since any key of the model car stolen will enter the ignition, any key other than a blank would not arouse immediate suspicion.

Use of a gaff" tool in the perpetration of a crime normally defies detection since no outward sign of entry or use occurs although there is indeed a detectable change in the lock which will be explained in the description of the invention. The lack of any outward visible sign of the entry to the automobile can lead to loss of insurance benefits since no sign of a crime is visible and may also lead to termination of employment since an inside job may be suspected. For example, if money or valuables are left in a locked automobile, the car is entered with a gaff, the money and valuables removed, and then the car is re-locked, the police are not likely to find the one sign that indicates the car was entered with the use of a gaf The police will thus report no evidence of forcible entry, the insurance company may refuse to pay on a claim for stolen goods,

and the employee may be suspected of stealing the goods and thereby lose his employment. A gaf can open the trunk lock of most cars without showing any outward evidence of entry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is the discovery that by holding the releasable cap on a tumbler pin keyed lock in relation to the body of the lock, the lock can be rendered inoperable by a gaf In addition, modifying the lock according to the present invention will also render the lock invulnerable to opening by the use of air guns.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock modification which is inexpensive, easy to install, does not damage, or require replacement of the existing lock and is invulnerable to gaffs" and air guns.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lock modification which may be either factory installed or installed after delivery of the automobile.

A further object is to provide a lock modification which will prevent the opening by gaffs of any lock having a removable cap whether it be used on automobiles, boats, homes, or machines.

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a lock in common use today which is vulnerable to the use of gaffs and air guns. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the lock shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lock shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a lock modified in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4a is a partial perspective view of another form of the lock modified in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a standard lock modified to accept the cap shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lock cap modified in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a standard lock body modified to accept the caps whown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate cap modified in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of still another modified cap.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a standard lock and showing still another form of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the lock and device shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the portion of the lock shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is an end view of the portion of the lock shown in FIG. 4a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A standard lock housing 1 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 7, and 10. Such locks have a rotatable barrel 2, a cylinder pin block 3 and a pin cap 4. The standard pin cap has a flat top plate 6 and depending sides 7 and 8 which are sprung slightly inwardly and frictionally engage walls 9 and 10 of the pin cylinder block. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insertion of a gaff which is a tool used for forcing the pins of a lock upwardly against the cap, will cause the cap to move in the direction of arrow 12. If the cap is left in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock barrel may be rotated by any key or blank key or tool, thereby permitting unlatching without the proper key of any door in which the lock is used.

In order to render a lock constructed in the manner of the lock illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, or any other lock similar in construction which has a removable pin cap similar to the cap shown, the pin cap must be secured to the pin cylinder block or other portion of the lock housing. The means used need not prevent total removal of the cap, and in fact, the means used need only insure that a portion of the cap is secured to the pin cylinder block. All that is required is to insure that one pin is still functioning properly.

In FIG. 4 and FIG. 12, the pin cylinder block 3a has been formed with undercut shoulders 13 and 14 providing indented faces 16 and 17. The pin cap 4a is formed with a flat top face 6a and depending legs 7a and 8a. The modification of the cap consists of inwardly turned flanges l8 and 19 formed on the cap legs which mechanically engage the shoulders 13 and 14 of the pin cylinder block and thereby prevent uplift of the cap by any forcing of the lock pins through pin cyclinder openings 21. The pin cap 4a may be installed on the cylinder block by sliding it in the direction shown by arrow 22 or if the sides 7a and 8a are made of spring metal, the cap may be forced downwardly from the top over sides 9a and a and snap locked on the pin cylinder block.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIG. 4a and FIG. 13 in which the operation is identical to the previously described form of the invention shown in FIG. 4 with the exception that the sides 9b and 10b are tapered so that the cap 4a may be more easily fitted onto the pin cylinder block from above. Arrows 23 and 24 show the direction of inserting the cap 4a on the pin cylinder block 3b. The flanges 18 and 19 catch shoulders 13b and 14b and lifting of the cap is prevented by any forcing of the lock pins upwardly through cylinder openings 21.

Another form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Cap 4c is formed with the usual flat top member 6c and depending side members 70 and 8c. In addition,

end leg 26 depends from end 27 of the cap and a foot,

28 protrudes at about a right angle therefrom. An opening 29 is provided in the foot for insertion of a fastener therethrough such as threaded screw 31. The housing 1c is formed with a threaded opening 32 adjacent the end of the pin cylinder block 30 into which screw 31 is threaded. While anchoring one of the ends of the cap is sufficient to prevent vulnerability to a gaf or air gun, it may be desirable to form protrusions 33 and 34 on the cap which may be inserted into registering openings 36 formed on either side of the pin cylinder block 30. The pin cylinder openings 21c hold the pins and springs which are held in place by the members but preferably they are placed near the mid portion of the legs as shown in the drawing. Threaded openings 46 and 47 are drilled and tapped into the lock body lgi for receipt of the threaded screws 43. The cap 4d securely holds the pins and springs in cylinder openings 21d and prevents the use of a gaf or air gun to open the lock.

A somewhat modified form of the invention is shown in FIG. 9. The operation of this form of the invention is identical to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 except that the leg portions have been reduced to straps 48 and 49 which depend from flat top member 6 e. Foot members 38? and 39? depend from the strap members and are formed with openings 41 e and 42? for receipt of a fastener such as threaded screw 43?. Threaded fasteners 43? are threadably received in openings 46 and 47 of lock body 1d.

Still another form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and l l. The cap member 4 is identical in all respects to the standard cap member shown in FIGS. l-3.

The lock, however, is made invulnerable to opening by a gaff or air gun by securing the cap securely to the pin cylinder block 3 by a strap member 48 which encircles the lock body 1. The cap is formed with the standard flat top member 6 and depending legs 7 and 8. In order that the lock body 1 can be fitted into a door, it is preferable that the strap member 48 conform to the configuration of the pin block 3 and body member 1. Thus the strap is formed with a flat top portion 49, depending portions 51 and 52 and circular portions 53. The strap 48 may be formed of a single one-piece member encircling the cap and lock body, but for ease of manufacture and installation, the strap is formed with ends 56 and 57 which are joined by a rivet or other fastener. If the ends 56 and 57 are drilled and tapped, a simple threaded screw 58 may be used to join the ends. It is not necessary that the screw 58 be threaded into the lock body, but of course this feature would be acceptable to the operation of the device.

We claim:

1. An improved lock which is invulnerable to operation by a gaff or air gun wherein the lock consists of a housing formed with pin cylinder openings in a pin cylinder block, a rotatable barrel formed with openings in registration with said pin cylinder openings, pin members slidably contained in said cylinder openings and biased by individual springs, and a removable cap covering said cylinder openings for containing said pins and springs, the improvement comprising:

a. means securing said cap to said lock body housing to prevent movement of said cap in a direction outwardly from said lock housing axial to said cylinder openings including:

1. said cap being formed with an end leg depending from said cap top member and being formed with a foot protruding at approximately right angles thereto and having an opening therein;

2. said lock body being formed with a threaded opening; and

3. a threaded fastener for attaching said cap to said to the end formed with said end leg; and outwardly from said lock housing axial to said cylc. said lock body housing being formed with openings indel' p g including;

located for the receipt of said cap protursions. Said p being formed with depending Side 3. An improved lock which is invulnerable to opera- 5 2. said depending side members being formed with foot members protruding outwardly at approximately right angles and formed with openings;

3. said lock housing being formed with threaded openings adjacent the cylinder block member containing said pin cylinder openings; and

tion by a gaff or air gun wherein the lock consists of a housing formed with pin cylinder openings in a pin cylinder block, a rotatable barrel formed with openings in registration with said pin cylinder openings, pin members slidably contained in said cylinder openings and biased y inffividuai p and a 'f f i PP 4. threaded fastener members inserted through the Covermg 531d cylinder openmgs for Said P openings in said foot members and into said lock and springs, the mprovement comprising: body housing for securing said cap to said housa. means securing said cap to said lock body housing ing.

to prevent movement of said cap in a direction 

1. An improved lock which is invulnerable to operation by a gaff or air gun wherein the lock consists of a housing formed with pin cylinder openings in a pin cylinder block, a rotatable barrel formed with openings in registration with said pin cylinder openings, pin members slidably contained in said cylinder openings and biased by individual springs, and a removable cap covering said cylinder openings for containing said pins and springs, the improvement comprising: a. means securing said cap to said lock body housing to prevent movement of said cap in a direction outwardly from said lock housing axial to said cylinder openings including:
 1. said cap being formed with an end leg depending from said cap top member and being formed with a foot protruding at approximately right angles thereto and having an opening therein;
 2. said lock body being formed with a threaded opening; and
 3. a threaded fastener for attaching said cap to said lock body and insertable through said foot opening and into said lock body opening.
 2. said lock body being formed with a threaded opening; and
 2. An improved lock as described in claim 1 comprising: a. said cap being formed with depending side members; b. said cap being formed with protrusions formed on the ends of said side members on said cap opposite to the end formed with said end leg; and c. said lock body housing being formed with openings located for the receipt of said cap protursions.
 2. said depending side members being formed with foot members protruding outwardly at approximately right angles and formed with openings;
 3. said lock housing being formed with threaded openings adjacent the cylinder block member containing said pin cylinder openings; and
 3. a threaded fastener for attaching said cap to said lock body and insertable through said foot opening and into said lock body opening.
 3. An improved lock which is invulnerable to operation by a gaff or air gun wherein the lock consists of a housing formed with pin cylinder openings in a pin cylinder block, a rotatable barrel formed with openings in registration with said pin cylinder openings, pin members slidably contained in said cylinder openings and biased by individual springs, and a removable cap covering said cylinder openings for containing said pins and springs, the improvement comprising: a. means securing said cap to said lock body housing to prevent movement of said cap in a direction outwardly from said lock housing axial to said cylinder openings including;
 4. threaded fastener members inserted through the openings in said foot members and into said lock body housing for securing said cap to said housing. 